Reds: 3 players most likely to improve league-worst batting average

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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 19: Nick Senzel #15 of the Cincinnati Reds watches the ball . (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The Reds must improve their league-worst batting average from a year ago.

Without bringing in any free agents other than Sean Doolittle this offseason, if the Cincinnati Reds are hoping to improve upon the league-worst .212 batting average from a year ago, they’ll need to rely upon players who are already within the organization. Which three players are most likely to help boost the team’s batting average in 2021?

The Reds bats were atrocious in 2020. Granted it was only a 60-game season, and players like two-time All-Star Javier Báez former NL MVP Christian Yelich struggled as well, but the Cincinnati offense scuffled all season to get the team’s batting average above the Mendoza line.

Heading into the 2021 season, the team cannot afford to get off to a sluggish start. While power is the name of the game for some of Cincinnati’s best players, if the Reds are pounding out home runs with the bases empty, it’s only worth one run. However, there are some players currently on the team’s roster who could prove to be valuable hitters during the upcoming season.

Taking the non-qualifiers out of the equation, Jesse Winker was the team’s best hitter in 2020 ratcheting up a batting average of .255. Kyle Farmer (.266) and Tyler Stephenson (.294) had better stats, but neither player accumulated more than 100 at-bats in 2020. Eugenio Suárez hit a paltry .202 and Tucker Barnhart posted a .204 batting average.

Let’s take a look at some past statistics and see how some of Cincinnati’s players ended to the 2020 season to see if we can gain some insight as to who’s ready to breakout as the best hitter on this year’s Reds team. Regardless of who steps up, the Reds cannot afford to be at or near the bottom of the league in batting average and hope to compete in 2020.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 25: Shogo Akiyama #4 of the Cincinnati Reds bats. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

1. Shogo Akiyama, Reds outfielder

There may be no more exciting player to follow on this year’s Cincinnati Reds team than Shogo Akiyama. Last year’s free agent signee from Japan encountered an unexpected hurdle in 2020 when Cactus League play was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Few players may have been impacted more but the stoppage than Akiyama.

This season, without a universal DH, the question becomes how often will we see Akiyama in the lineup and where will he play? Akiyama played both center and left field last season, but with Jesse Winker likely to own an everyday spot in the lineup, it’s going to be tricky for David Bell to offer up enough time to both outfielders.

There’s also the matter of centerfielder Nick Senzel, who Bell views as the team’s everyday centerfielder. And given the size of this contract, I don’t expect anyone on the Reds roster to supplant Nick Castellanos.

Bell’s greatest challenge this season will be getting his four outfielders ample playing time while keeping the vibe loose around the clubhouse. While Akiyama does not possess the same type of power of Winker and Castellanos, his ability to hit and get on base will likely find the left-handed hitting outfielder atop the Reds batting order on a regular basis.

Over the final month of the 2020 season, Shogo Akiyama seemed to find his stride. When the calendar flipped to September, Akiyama hit .317, scored 11 runs, and racked up three doubles. Given the adjustments Akiyama had to make to adapt to playing in America, these stats should give Reds Country hope that last year’s struggles are behind the 32-year-old.

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 2: Nick Senzel #15 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a double against the Detroit Tigers.(Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

2. Nick Senzel, Reds outfielder

Nick Senzel has the potential to be the best hitter in the Cincinnati Reds lineup. In fact, the 25-year-old has the potential to be the best position player on the team. One thing has held Senzel during his first two years in the big leagues, and it’s his ability to stay on the field.

During the first three months of Senzel’s rookie season in 2019, he hit .285/.346/.475 with eight home runs, 30 RBIs, 18 doubles, and 4 triples, while also scoring 40 runs. Unfortunately, former Reds hitting coach Turner Ward decided to have Senzel tinker with his swing, and during the month of August we saw Senzel’s production tank. The then-24-year-old hit .184/.238/.296.

Senzel would revert back to his original swing, but a shoulder injury in early September took him out of the remainder of the 2019 season. After going 0-for-7 to begin the 2020 season, Nick Senzel put together a 12-game stretch where he hit .289/.364/.579 with five doubles, two round-trippers, and eight RBIs.

Unfortunately, Senzel was put on Cincinnati’s injured list with an illness and did not return to the lineup until September 14th, one month of after being placed on the IL. Senzel was not in baseball shape and struggled in those final nine games, going 2-for-25 (.080) with a double, no walks, and five strikeouts.

If Nick Senzel can stay healthy, he’ll be the best hitter on this year’s Cincinnati Reds team. The 25-year-old has hit at every level he’s ever played and I have no doubt that he can do it in the majors. Senzel hit .312 during his minor league career and .301 at the Triple-A level. There’s no reason to believe he can’t do the same in the big leagues, but he must show that he can stay on the field.

CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Tyler Stephenson #37 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

3. Tyler Stephenson, Reds catcher

Tyler Stephenson has a ton of pressure on his shoulders heading into the 2021 season. After breaking onto the biggest stage of them all last season with a home run in his first plate appearance and a walk-off against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a lot of fans are hoping for big things from the former first-round pick.

Stephenson’s chances during the early going of the 2021 season are likely to be few and far between. I assure you that David Bell will play Stephenson every chance he gets against left-handed pitcher, but Tucker Barnhart will get the lion’s share of starts, especially against right-handed hurlers.

Where Stephenson fits into the Reds batting order when he’s inserted into the lineup will be interesting to follow. I’m guessing that either Shogo Akiyama or Nick Senzel will bat leadoff with the quintet of Nick Castellanos, Joey Votto, Eugenio Suárez, Mike Moustakas, and Jesse Winker to follow.

That basically tells me that Stephenson is likely to find a home near the back of the Reds batting order; most likely slotted behind Moustakas or Winker and in front of Kyle Farmer or Dee Strange-Gordon. Will Stephenson be counted on to get on base or drive runs home? Regardless, the right-handed hitting rookie will get his opportunities in 2021.

Next. Projecting the Reds 2022 starting rotation

Tyler Stephenson never played Triple-A, but his slash line at Double-A Chattanooga (.285/.372/.410) is encouraging. Stephenson also brought the wood during the Arizona Fall League in 2019 where he hit .347/.418/.490. Reds fans will be looking for Stephenson to help an offense that never really got going in 2020.

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